Understanding Repentance. RCCG Sunday School Manual

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (KJV)

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

MEMORY VERSE: Acts 3:19 (KJV)

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

INTRODUCTION

Technically, repentance is a change of mind, not just a turning from sin. The Greek word translated as repentance is metanoia, and the meaning is simply a change of mind.

In common usage, however, we often speak of repentance as “a turning from sin.” In this lesson, we will discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in repentance and its outcome.

OUTLINES:

The Convicting Work of The Holy Spirit

The Final Products

1. The Convicting Work Of The Holy Spirit

Repentance is often associated with salvation in the scripture, that is, what happens when the Holy Spirit begins HIs work to bring a person to salvation

The Spirit gives the sinner a personal understanding and infallible conviction that the facts concerning his spiritual state are true (John 16:8).

Those facts are his sin, the eternal punishment due for his sin, the substitutionary nature of Jesus’ suffering for his sin as well as the need for faith in Jesus to save him from his sin Romans 6:23; Corinthians 5:21).

From that convicting work of the Holy Spirit, the sinner repents; he changes his mind about sin, the Saviour and salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When a repentant person changes his mind about sin, that change of mind naturally leads to a turning from sin. Sin is no longer desirable or fun because sin brings condemnation (Romans 5:17-18).

The repentant sinner begins to dislike his past misdeeds, and he starts seeking ways to amend his behaviour (Luke 19:8; Acts 2:37).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1:

Students should mention other types of sin they have come across in the bible.

2. The Final Products

Ultimately, the result of the change of mind about sin is good deeds (Matthew 3:8; Titus 2:7, 14).

The sinner turns away from sin towards faith in the Saviour, and that faith is shown in action (James 2:17).

Repentance concerning salvation is a change of mind from an embrace of sin to rejection of sin and the rejection of Christ to faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5).

Such repentance is something only God can enable John 6:44; 2 Timothy 2:25).

Therefore, true biblical repentance will always result in a change of behaviour (2 Corinthians 5:17)

CLASS ACTIVITY 2:

Students should share any experience of freedom they had from the claws of sin and the effect on their existence.

CONCLUSION: RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL 22 OCTOBER 2023

Your character must change from sinful to godly if you have repented. It is not just turning from sin but turning to God.

QUESTION

• Explain repentance.
• Mention three final products of repentance.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL 22 OCTOBER 2023 ASSIGNMENT

Write five differences between repentance and remorsefulness. (2×5=10 marks).